Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T20:32:52.085Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Foundation Myths of the Two Denominations of Vīraśaivism: Viraktas and Gurusthalins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2011

R. Blake Michael
Get access

Abstract

Vīraśaivism is usually presented as a unified, sectarian, reformation movement founded in the twelfth century by Basava. But within Virasaivism there are actually two, separate denominations—viraktas and gurusthalins. For the former, the beliefs and practices reflected in the Basava legend serve as norms for their sectarian-type religious organization. In contrast, gurusthalins derive norms for their basically ecclesiastical organization from the timeless myths of five great gurus. Hence the two accounts of origins serve as legitimizing and normative etiologies for competitive denominations divided by fundamentally different visions of how Virasaivism should be organized and what ideals it should propagate.

Type
Articles
Information
The Journal of Asian Studies , Volume 42 , Issue 2 , February 1983 , pp. 309 - 322
Copyright
Copyright © Association for Asian Studies, Inc. 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

List of References

Basavapurāṇa [of Bhīmakavi]. 1968. Ed. by Hiremath, R. C.. Dharwar: Karnatak University.Google Scholar
Brown, C. P. 1840. “Essay on the Creed, Customs and Literature of Jangamas.” Journal of Literature and Science (Madras) 11 (January–June): 143–77.Google Scholar
Desai, P. B. 1968. Basavesvara and His Times. Dharwar: Kannada Research Institute, Karnatak University.Google Scholar
Durant, Will. 1935. The Story of Civilization. In Our Oriental Heritage, by Durant, vol. 1. New York: Simon and Schuster.Google Scholar
Enthoven, R. E. 1916. “Lingayats.” In Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, ed. By Hastings, James, 8:69–75. New York: Scribners' Sons.Google Scholar
Feldhaus, Anne. 1980. “Review of S. C. Nandimath's A Handbook of Vīraśaivism.” South Asia in Review 5, no 1 (August):9–10.Google Scholar
Fleet, J. F. 1898–99. “Inscriptions at Ablūr.” Epigraphia Indica 5:213–65.Google Scholar
Gustafson, Paul. 1967. “UO-US-PS-PO: A Restatement of Troeltsch's Church-Sect Typology.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 6, no. 1 (Spring): 64–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hariharaṇa Ragaḷegaḷu: Samagrasaṃputa. 1968. Ed. by Halakaṭṭi, P. G.. Dharwar: Samāj Pustakālaya.Google Scholar
Krishhaswamy Aiyangar, S. 1923. Some Contributions of South India to Indian Culture. Calcutta: University of Calcutta.Google Scholar
McCormack, William. 1963. “Lingayats as Sect.” Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland 93 (January-June):59–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCormack, William. 1973. “On Lingayat Culture.” In Speaking of Siva, trans, and ed. by Ramanujan, A. K., pp. 175–87. Baltimore: Penguin.Google Scholar
Marro, Clement. 1974. “Role and Position of the Guru and of the Jangama in Lingayatism.” Bangalore Theological Forum 6, no. 2 (July-December):28–51.Google Scholar
Michael, R. Blake. 1982. “Work as Worship in Vīraśaiva Tradition.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 50, no. 4 (December): 101–115.Google Scholar
Nandimath, S. C. 1942. A Handbook of Vīraśaivism. Dharwar: L. E. Association.Google Scholar
Ramanujan, A. K., ed. and trans. 1973. Speaking of Śiva. Baltimore: Penguin.Google Scholar
Sadasivaiah, H. M. 1967. A Comparative Study of Two Vīraśaiva Monasteries. Mysore: Prasaranga, Manasa Gangotri.Google Scholar
Sakhare, M. R. 1942. History and Philosophy of Lingayat Religion. Balgaum: By the author.Google Scholar
Siddhānta Śikhāmaṇi [of Śivayōgi]. 1972. Ed. by Śāstri, Kāśinātha. Mysore: Śrī Pañcācārya Electric Press, V. P. Mahādēvayya.Google Scholar
Srīkara Bhā⊡ja [of Śrīpati Paṇḍita]. 1936. Ed. and trans, by Rao, C. Hayavadana. Bangalore City: Bangalore Press.Google Scholar
Śūnyasaṃpādane [of Gūḷūra Siddhavīraṇāryaru]. 1965. Ed. by Nandimath, S. C. et al. Dharwar: Karnatak University.Google Scholar
Troeltsch, Ernst. 1960. The Social Teaching of the Christian Churches. Trans, by Wyon, Olive. New York: Harper and Row.Google Scholar
Vail, Lise F. In progress. “The Lingayat Gurusthala Matha: An Investigation into the Nature and Role of the Household Monastery in South India.” Ph.D. dissertation, University of Pennsylvania.Google Scholar
Weber, Max. 1958. The Religion of India. Trans, and ed. by Gerth, Hans. H. and Martindale, Don. New York: The Free Press.Google Scholar
Wolf, Herbert C. 1978. “The Linga as Center; A Study in Religious Phenomenology.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 46, no. 3 (September):370–88.Google Scholar
Würth, G., trans, and commentator. 1865–66. The Basava Purāna of the Lingaks.” Journal of the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 8, no. 24:65–97.Google Scholar